| I think everyone went through a big moment of self-reflection [during the pandemic], a lot of navel-gazing, and I don't know if there's anything more navel-gazing than making an album. It's so self-absorbed. |
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| Trombone sugar: Harry Styles at Coachella, April 15, 2022. |
| (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) |
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| quote of the day |
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Styles in the USA
It wasn't that long ago that pop music skeptics were wondering what would become of arena and stadium tours, and maybe touring in general, after the last generation of classic rockers died out or retired. I'm here to report that HARRY STYLES is about to put tickets on sale for a tour that includes 10 shows at the MEADOWLANDS in New Jersey and 10 more at the FORUM in Los Angeles, which is a BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BORN IN THE USA achievement unlocked. Literally. Springsteen did 10 shows at the Meadowlands and (a mere) seven in LA on that legendary tour's initial run. He was 11 years and seven albums into his career as COLUMBIA RECORDS' official rock and roll future. Harry Styles is 11 years and eight albums (including his ONE DIRECTION oeuvre) into his Columbia Records career. Springsteen, of course, also did multiple dates in Philadelphia, Landover, Hartford, Worcester, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, etc. etc. etc., I'm not saying they're identical blockbuster artists, but still, put on a white t-shirt and doff your trucker hat to Styles and his team, who probably have years, if not decades, of this to come. And then doff that hat again in the direction of KENDRICK LAMAR, who's 11 years and six albums into his TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT career and who just announced a 65-date arena tour to support an album that's going to be blasting, "NO SURRENDER" style, out of a lot of cars in a lot of cities around the world this summer. A pandemic still lurks, but a lack of artists able to fill arenas and stadiums isn't a thing anyone's going to have to worry about for a long time, if ever. The kids, as always, have got this.
Styles will be touring behind HARRY'S HOUSE, which is out this Friday and which I'm mentioning now because we're finally getting to our last leg of spring cleaning and MusicREDEF will be off for the rest of the week. We'll be back in your in box and back on our regular schedule Monday morning (as always, we'll continue to update our Twitter).
(Also lookout Friday for new music from MAVIS STAPLES & LEVON HELM, DREEZY & HIT-BOY, BOLDY JAMES & REAL BAD MAN, SHABAKA HUTCHINGS, MARY LATTIMORE & PAUL SUKEENA, DAVID MURRAY BRAVE NEW WORLD TRIO (with BRAD JONES and HAMID DRAKE), DANIEL VILLAREAL, MELODY GARDOT & PHILIPPE POWELL, FLUME, JEFF MILLS, SUBJECTIVE, RAVYN LENAE, ZOLA JESUS, WEIRD NIGHTMARE, PORRIDGE RADIO, CAVE IN, CRAIG FINN and the NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND.)
Styles' one-off New York album-release show on Friday will be livestreamed on APPLE MUSIC.
Etc Etc Etc
The COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME, which is a little more selective and slower to open its doors than its rock counterpart, will welcome the late KEITH WHITLEY, the ageless JERRY LEE LEWIS and longtime Music Row executive JOE GALANTE this year. A solid class, though this remains a valid open question... JESSE HUGHES, who was onstage with EAGLES OF DEATH METAL when Paris' LE BATACLAN was stormed by terrorists seven years ago, says he has forgiven the men who killed 90 people that night, "and I hope that they find the peace of God themselves." Hughes was speaking to reporters before testifying briefly in the trial of SALAH ABDESLAM, the one gunman who survived, and several others charged as accomplices... Popular Russian DJ NINA KRAVIZ and her label, TRIP RECORDINGS, have been dropped by CLONE DISTRIBUTION, which has accused her of being "pro-Putin" and "flirting with CCCP/USSR-sentiments." In a long response on Instagram, Kraviz said she's opposed to "all forms of violence" and "I am a musician and was never involved in supporting the politicians or political parties, and I am not planning to do it in the future"... Boston singer/songwriter ALISA AMADOR is the 2022 winner of NPR Music's TINY DESK CONTEST. Her entry, "MILONGA ACCIDENTAL," is a Spanish-language song named for an Argentinian and Uruguayan folk rhythm.
Rest in Peace
Singer/songwriter/guitarist FRANKIE REX of New York's the FMs.
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| - Matty Karas (@troubledoll), curator |
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| music for a sushi restaurant |
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Billboard |
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| Pink Floyd’s Catalog Payday Will Be Huge -- But Will It Break Records? |
| By Ed Christman |
| The ongoing auction for Pink Floyd's recorded masters and other rights -- but not publishing -- could bring in one of the richest paydays so far for a music artist selling their catalogs. Billboard analyzes the iconic band's catalog valuation, and why potential buyers want it. |
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Dada Drummer Almanach |
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| Click Wheel of Fortune |
| By Damon Krukowski |
| Did the iPod destroy the market for physical media, break the power of the album, and lead directly to the streaming mess we’re in? I’d argue it wasn’t the iPod that did all this -- it was the far less glamorous, and far more imperfectly designed iTunes Music Store. |
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The Face |
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| Why are rap lyrics being used in courts? |
| By Will Pritchard |
| Young Thug and Gunna are facing heavy gang-related charges and prosecutors are citing lyrical content as evidence. Yet the use of rap lyrics in court has been shown to be overwhelmingly prejudicial - and to reinforce racist stereotypes. So why is it still happening and what is being done to stop it? |
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The New York Times |
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| A Boxed Set for the Birds Hopes to Save Them, Too |
| By Grayson Haver Currin |
| A star-studded, 242-track trove of songs and poems inspired by birdsong is the latest project in a series of releases raising awareness about its own threatened sources. |
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Pollstar |
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| The Greatness Behind The Greatness: On Making An Impact In The Live Biz |
| By Sarah Pittman |
| When fans see their favorite artist, part of the magic is how the whole performance feels effortless and allows one to be in the moment. But those of us in the live industry know that to pull off a tour or festival it takes dozens of people working diligently behind the scenes. Meet the assistants. |
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| what we're into |
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| Video of the day |
| “Amazing Grace” |
| Sydney Pollack/Alan Elliott |
| Sydney Pollack's mesmerizing film of Aretha Franklin in church in 1972 was finally completed by producer Alan Elliott in 2018. Streaming at several sites including Hulu and Amazon Prime. |
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| Music | Media |
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| “REDEF is dedicated to my mother, who nurtured and encouraged my interest in everything and slightly regrets the day she taught me to always ask ‘why?’” |
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